Tokyo, Japan + Add a trip

Best Kyushu-style Ramen in Tokyo: Jungara Ramen

The Jungara in Akasaka is best for overall atmosphere and food quality in my opinion, but the Harajuku shop is almost as good, albeit with even longer lines. There is another shop in Akihabara but it doesn't offer the full menu (in particular missing my favorite kobonsha and bonsha variations).

Tokyo Midtown is an modern and fancy complex with lots of different restaurants, shops, museums, a small park, and hotel/monthly apartments. You can get there by subway, just follow the Tokyo Midtown signs from Roppongi Station (Toei Oedo Line or Hibiya Line).

This is a great place to meet with, for example, Japanese business partners. I've been to just two restaurants/bars there, but can recommend both of them:

- Salon Bar Yol (http://y-o-l.jp/), open 17-29 (?) --> I suppose it means until 9 am. It was pretty quiet when I was there at 6 pm - A971 (http://www.a971.com/), bar 1F, dining 2F, gets quite busy right after work

The restaurants usually have English menus and the staff speak English, at least enough to take reservation and orders. ;-)

Sushi at Sushidai in Tsukiji - 3 hour wait on weekends, but worth it.

Super-fresh veggies, nice atmosphere and friendly staff.

Very fancy shojin ryori, or monks food. Mostly vegan, except for sometimes a bit of fish in the stock for flavor. Fairly pricey.

Lots of great vegan and veggie food as well as good organic beer and wine in a down-to-earth kind of casual atmosphere. Reasonably priced.

A fun restaurant modeled after a ninja house. You are lead through a funny ninja house tour on your way to your table. There are magicians and other entertainment. The food has funny names and looks "unique", but tastes quite good considering the focus on the theatrics.

Lots of fun.

A no-frills accommodation perfect for the budget traveler who wants their own room (not sharing with eight others) and plans to stay in Tokyo for a week or longer.

Get a great 360 degree view of Tokyo for free at the observatory on the 45th floors.

The Tokyo Tourist Information Centre is also located in building No.1. Ditch your bulky guide books for their excellent A4-size area guide maps.

Superb location, quite impressive lobby/bar area, crazy view. This hotel has most things going for it, but... (well, see for yourself here, including pics) http://www.guidebook.se/?p=220

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So you want to be a Salaryman for a day? You want to experience a REAL Japanese atmosphere? Well, Kanda Shokudo is the place. This restaurant was here long before the behemoth UDX and the other high rises were built in Akihabara. If you are not into the Maid Cafe scene and want a quick, cheap, and big portions of food, then Kanda Shokudo is the place for you.

Just remember, going it alone is best because during lunch you probably will not be sitting together. Ordering is most easily done by ordering what has been made and sitting on the counter. The most popular is the ginger beef, the croquette, or the fried pork cutlet (ton-katsu), plate.